LOSS OF THE WARATAH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 214, 19 December 1910, Page 5

LOSS OF THE WARATAH

THE VESSEL'S STABILITY DOUBTED. By Cable—Press Association—-Copyright. London, December 16. A letter was read from the owners, which, informed the builders that Captain Hbery was convinced the stability of the Waratah was less than that of the Geelong. Mr. Peek, builders' director, testified that the owners did not complain respecting the vessel's behaviour qn the first voyage; they complained about her inability to shift from one dock to another without ballast. He convinced them that her stability was equal to the Geelong's. Captain Clarke, emigration officer, gave evidence that Captain Ilbery, after the first voyage, said she was a very satisfactory vessel. His exact words were: "A very handy ship." Claude Sawyer gave evidence that •the Waratah rolled heavily after leaving Adelaide. Passengers were injured by falling on the deck. The vessel had a jerky roll, and was slow in recovering. He dreamed three times that he saw a man with a long sword, and that the Waratah was struck by a roller and disappeared. This decided him to leave the ship at.Durban. He considered she was top-heavy. Bennett, who was third officer on her maiden voyage, said there was nothing extraordinary in the vessel's behaviour. She listed four or five degrees. He left because he was promoted to another vessel.

Mr. Laing: Did you ever tell anyone you left because of some forthcoming alterations which would • take two months. Witness: No.

A lady in the 'body of the court: Yes, yes! You told me and my husband.

A TREMENDOUS LIST ALLEGED.

WAS THE VESSEL TOP-HEAVY?

Received 18, 5.5 p.m. London, December 17.

Admiral Davis sharply cross-examined Mr. Peck, the builders' director, as to why no investigations of. Captain Ilbery's complaints were, made. T. H. Earle, chief surveyor of Lloyd's, stated that the Waratah was thoroughly well constructed, and a strong ship.

•The voice which contradicted Bennett belonged to Mrs. Gibbs, the mother of a passenger by the Waratah. Her husband afterwards emphatically stated that he understood Bennett to say the Waratah was going to be laid up for two months for alterations.

Bennett repeated that Gibbs was mistaken.

Claude Sawyer, in further evidence, stated that the Waratah (had a big list to port when leaving Melbourne. When going through disturbed waters she wobbled a great deal, and then took a list to the starboard, in which position she remained for a very long time. Once the ■vessel heeled over while witness was on the .boat-deck until the water was beneath him. While recovering, the Waratah often gave a peculiar jerk, and several of the passengers were thrown to the deck and injured. He had discussed the roll of 45 degrees with an officer, who replied, "The builders have seen to the roll; it is all right." He heard the third and fourth officers at Adelaide express the opinion that the Waratah was top-heavy. Herbert, a steward, said that he left the Waratah because he disliked the rolling, and terrific creaking. Bask, a seaman, declared that the steamer was top-heavy, and that she was never upright excepting in fine weather.

Renter's Capetown correspondent reports that the deck-chair found at Coffee Cove (and reported to bear the name of the Waratah) is inscribed only "Moir" and the letters "N.R."

A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.

Received 19, 12.15 a.m. London, December 17,

Herbert stated that he called the engineers' attention to the movement of the promenade deck. The whole ,of the wooden structure moved bodily athwart the ship. Some bolt-heads ihad broken, off, and the woodwork around the saloon door was separated from the ironwork to the extent of a couple of inches.